Rockhopper Penguin

The Rockhopper penguin (Eudyptes chrysocome), more specifically the Southern Rockhopper Penguin, is a small bird that resides on the surrounding Southern Ocean islands of Antarctica, Oceania, and South America. It is an adoptable animal in Zoo Tycoon 2.

Description[]

The Rockhopper Penguin is a small penguin that is around 20 inches in height and is a member of the "crested penguin" family, which are distinguished by the yellow crests of feathers above their eyes. It lives across the Southern Ocean, with populations on islands around Antarctica, South America and Oceania.

Their diet mainly includes krill and small crustaceans, but they also sometimes eat squid and myctophid fish. They can dive up to 100m (330 feet) for many minutes at a time while searching for prey.

As their name implies, rockhopper penguins traverse the rocky coastlines where they live by "hopping" over the rocks. They build their nests in tall grasses called tussocks. Leopard seals, Orcas, and Sharks hunt these penguins.

Zoo Tycoon 2[]

Rockhopper Penguins were introduced in Zoo Tycoon 2: Marine Mania as the expansion's only bird. They enjoy a Coastal habitat and should be placed with other peaceful animals such as the Green Sea Turtle or the West Indian Manatee, as more agressive animals like the California Sea Lion will hunt the penguins. Oddly, they will tolerate the Grassland biome quite well (as well as Tundra and Savannah to a lesser extent).

In Challenge Mode they are unlocked at two stars of zoo fame and cost $5,500 to adopt. They can be placed in both a full tank or hybrid exhibit. In a hybrid exhibit they won't require a floating Rock Island to sleep and lay eggs on top of, as they will go to the shore to do so. Rockhopper Penguins also climb on rocks in their enclosures.

Their diet consists of fish and shrimp, the latter of which can only be placed on the shore in a hybrid exhibit. Arctic Cod and interestingly enough the much larger Yellowfin Tuna can also be purchased as huntable Animal Enrichment objects. Ice Floes may also be use, similarly to the Emperor Penguins.

The rockhopper penguin was updated from the Low Risk conservation status to the Vulnerable status alongside a patch coming with Extinct Animals.

zootycoon.com Description
Rockhoppers inhabit the rocky islands of the sub-Antarctic, such as the Falklands, the Antipodes, and Macquarie Island. Because they nest on craggy shorelines, their ability to hop out of the water and up onto rocks is an important survival skill. It’s also how they got their common name. Both males and females sport a crest of yellow-and-black feathers, bright red eyes, and a sharp orange bill. The smallest of the six crested penguin species, rockhoppers can be aggressive, particularly when it comes to nesting sites. Females lay two eggs each breeding season, but only one is incubated. Both parents care for the chick. Rockhoppers are superb swimmers and hunters, who eat lantern fish, krill, and small squid.